The EMPOWER Initiative aims to build partnerships in the
community to reduce premature birth rates in Howard County. This can be
achieved by increasing awareness, educating the community about the causes of prematurity, and supporting women on what they can do to reduce their risk. For more information about EMPOWER, click on the graphic below.

What is premature birth?

Premature birth is the delivery of an infant prior to 37
weeks
of pregnancy and is the #1 cause of death for infants within the first
year of life in the United States. Prematurity can also be a predictor of
illness and life-long disabilities for infants including breathing and feeding difficulties, developmental delays, and Cerebral Palsy. In Howard
County, an average of 329 babies are born premature each year.

Who is affected?

In 2016, the highest preterm birth rate in Howard County was
among Asian/Pacific Islander women age 35+. Click on the graphic below for more
details on who is affected by prematurity in Howard County:

What are the resources?

The following websites provide helpful information about
prematurity. Learn more about how to prevent the causes of premature
birth: